You can purchase suntan lotion at nearly any beauty salon, grocery store, drugstore, or big-box retailer. Many people regularly rub lotion all over themselves before lying out in the sun. Some do it just out of habit and others do it because they are aware of the benefits of using lotions when tanning. If you are one of those people that rub suntan lotion on yourself before you lie out in the sun but you really don’t know why, we are going to share some of the benefits of using suntan lotion with you on this page.
Protection from the Sun

People lie out in the sun to get a tan, but a lot of people also do it for relaxation. Not too many people decide to lie on the beach for 15 minutes and then pack up and go home. People that go to the beach generally spend a bit of time there and the longer you spend in the sun, the more you are exposing your skin to harmful ultraviolet light.

Using a tanning lotion can help offer you some protection. Many suntan lotions will contain some sunscreen with an SPF as low as 2 to as high as 50 or more. Suntan lotions with an SPF rating will block ultraviolet light from penetrating your skin and prevent things like sunburn, premature aging, and other negative effects.

Hydration

When you are outside soaking up the sun, exposure to ultraviolet light can dehydrate your skin. One of the benefits of using lotions when tanning is that the lotions often contain moisturizers, essential oils, botanical extracts, antioxidants, and other ingredients that will help prevent your skin from drying out. The ingredients in many suntan lotions can also help protect your skin from developing wrinkles and losing elasticity.

Get a Faster Tan

I don’t know if there is any scientific evidence to back it up but a lot of people say that suntan lotions will accelerate the tanning process. They say that by delivering nutrients and essential vitamins that will help keep your skin healthy, the tanning process happens faster.

It’s important to note however that tanning accelerators can actually make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light and can actually increase the probability of skin damage. If you’re going to use a product that accelerates the tanning process, make sure that you limit the amount of time you spend exposing your skin to ultraviolet light.

Get a Darker, Longer-Lasting Tan

Some suntan lotions are designed to promote the production of melanin. Some lotions are designed to help increase blood flow to the skin which will help bring more melanin to the surface. Either way, more melanin means a darker, longer lasting tan.